HB1885: In terms and courses of study, providing for school swimming education program; in reimbursements…

2346 PRINTER'S NO. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL 1885 Session of No. 2025 INTRODUCED BY GREEN, GIRAL, HOWARD, SANCHEZ, HANBIDGE, HILL- EVANS, KHAN, PARKER, FREEMAN, FLEMING AND KENYATTA, SEPTEMBER 26, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SEPTEMBER 29, 2025 AN ACT 1 Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An 2 act relating to the public school system, including certain 3 provisions applicable as well to private and parochial 4 schools; amending, revising, consolidating and changing the 5 laws relating thereto," in terms and courses of study, 6 providing for school swimming education program; in 7 reimbursements by Commonwealth and between school districts, 8 providing for payments on account of school swimming 9 education program; and making an appropriation. 10 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 11 hereby enacts as follows: 12 Section 1. The act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known 13 as the Public School Code of 1949, is amended by adding sections 14 to read: 15 Section 1 529. School Swimming Education Program.--(a) On o r 16 before July 1, 2026, the department shall identify or develop a 17 model curriculum and guidelines for instruction in water and 18 swimming safety for students in grades kindergarten through 19 twelve. 20 (b) The model curriculum and guidelines under this section 21 shall:

1 (1) Be posted on the publicly accessible Internet website of 2 the department. 3 (2) Be age appropriate. 4 (3) Be made available to all school entities and, upon 5 request, to nonpublic schools. 6 (4) At a minimum, include instruction on: 7 (i) Awareness of water conditions. 8 (ii) Safe behaviors in and around the water. 9 (iii) The proper use of flotation devices. 10 (iv) The importance of avoiding alcohol and substance use 11 with water recreation. 12 (v) Any other subject that the department determines to be 13 appropriate. 14 (c) Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, a school 15 entity may utilize the model curriculum and guidelines under 16 this section or develop the school entity's own curriculum in 17 accordance with academic standards and consistent with this 18 section. The following apply: 19 (1) The school entity may partner with a local parks and 20 recreation agency to provide access to the necessary water and 21 swimming facilities to implement the curriculum under this 22 section. 23 (2) The school entity may utilize appropriate publicly or 24 privately available materials, personnel and other resources in 25 developing and implementing the curriculum, subject to the 26 requirements of section 111 and 23 Pa.C.S. § 6344 (relating to 27 employees having contact with children; adoptive and foster 28 parents). 29 (d) The sum of twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) is 30 initially appropriated from the General Fund to the department 20250HB1885PN2346 - 2 -

1 to provide for the implementation, administration and 2 enforcement of this section and for the payments specified under 3 section 2504.5. 4 (e) The department shall promulgate rules and regulations as 5 necessary to implement, administer and enforce this section. 6 (f) As used in this section, the following words and phrases 7 shall have the meanings given to them in this subsection unless 8 the context clearly indicates otherwise: 9 "Department." The Department of Education of the 10 Commonwealth. 11 "School entity." A school district, joint school district, 12 charter school, regional charter school, cyber charter school, 13 intermediate unit or area career and technical school. 14 Section 2504.5. Payments on Account of School Swimming 15 Education Program.--The Department of Education shall pay each 16 school entity that complies with the school swimming education 17 program established under section 1529, from money appropriated 18 under section 1529 or otherwise appropriated by the General 19 Assembly, an amount to be determined by multiplying the number 20 of pupils who have completed the school swimming education 21 program conducted by the school entity by thirty-five dollars 22 ($35). 23 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days. 20250HB1885PN2346 - 3 -